The AOIR are back in action.....Meaul

Walk: Coran of Portmark/Bow/Meaul

Category: Donald x 2

Height: n/a

Today was the first outing of the year with the AOIR. Due to the COVID restrictions we had 4 different small groups out at different places, social distancing of course.

The start a tranquil country scene

My group were out covering some of the Rhinns of Kells which included two Donald category hills. Although I have been tramping the hills recently and have reasonable hill fitness this was the first big one for the others.

Carsphairn Lane (burn)

We started off from the Green well parking area and noted how high the Carsphairn Lane was running, maybe overflow from Loch Doon? We followed the Garryhorn farm track up to the abandoned lead mining community at Woodhead. All that is left are some ruins and a chimney stack. Hard to imagine that a community of around 300 people lived here including a church, school and library.

Mine ruins and our ridge behind

There are good views of the hills but the forecast is for poorer weather lunchtime onwards.

There is a reasonable ATV track to follow climbing up to the tops but some of it is pretty muddy. Two frogs spotted in quick succession, one small and brown, the other much larger yellow and black. Luckily I spotted them before squishing them.

ATV track

The first high point was Coran of Portmark a Donald category. Good views of the track ahead but today's summit, Meaul, is in the cloud.

Looking down on Loch Doon

The Rhinns are by and large good high level walking and we soon reach the cairn at Bow which provide us with excellent views over Loch Doon and countryside.

Ridge to Meaul

The weather deteriorated and once again we could not find the Covenanters stone where one was shot and killed, third time unlucky, one day I will see it. Garryhorn farm was used as a base to hunt down Covenanters in the hills. The dragoons leader, Grierson of Lag, was believed to be in league with the devil and a black corbie (raven, crow or rook) sat on his hearse until it reached his grave.

We headed on to Meaul for lunch, sheltered beside some rocks as the rain got heavier, soggy sandwiches and a shorter than planned lunch break, nae views anyway.

Before the rain

The decision was to return by the same route as we were not convinced that the Garryhorn burn would be safe to cross, bearing in mind how high the Lane was running.

Featureless moor

Once the clouds lifted there were excellent views of the rugged landscape and a reminder of how long a walk in it is. Opposite Cairnsmore of Carsphairn never lost its cloud covering.

An excellent higher level walk, apart from my Achilles which was throbbing, not good news, need icing and Ibuprofen before the weekend.

Overall nice to get some chat with friends not seen for a while, a good day out.

Wildlife: Pied Wagtail; Meadow Pipit; Ringlet butterfly: Frogs (Common).

Distance: 18.4km

Ascent: 787m

Time: 5.34

Wild day on the north Rhinns

Gloomy start

Today’s walk was with the good folk from ADRC where we were climbing the North Rhinns of Kells, our route taking in Coran of Portmark, Bow & Meaul. I completed this walk a few months ago and would not normally return to a hill so quickly but I was attracted by the prospect of the forecasted blue sky, snow covered outing, a different perspective from the last time. How wrong was that forecast but yes indeed it was a very different perspective.
My first warning flag was when I went out to pack the car and the weather was very mild, cloudy and light rain, not the expected scraping the ice off of my car. Yesterday at the golf I could not get a tee into the ground it was so hard, how different.
When we arrived at Carsphairn and started the walk the hills were clad in a low grey shroud, optimism in our car as we shouted 'it will burn off'. An odd blue sky spot suggested, maybe? There were other cars in the parking area but they were heading up Cairnsmore.

Lead mine chimney stack in view

There is a longish walk towards the abandoned lead mines, as we passed the farm there was a blind ewe running in circles. It heard but could not see us, a bit sad. Now the drizzle had strengthened to medium downpour so waterproof trousers donned.

Ruins with low clad hills

Snack time and a short break at the lead mine ruins, these were the last shelter on the walk and afterwards we proceeded up the quad bike track towards Coran of Portmark. The wind had strengthened along with the rain and this continued all the way up.

Snow patch

Although there were some snow and ice patches but the majority had melted. This was simply head down and plod on. Endurance more than pleasure so far.
After a couple of hours from the start we reached the cairn at Coran of Portmark and it was conference time. 

Coran cairn

The group agreed to continue the walk to Bow and then reassess. The next section is a straightforward ridge walk with a fence to guide us in the gloom but we were still in the grey mass of low cloud, Loch Doon is down there somewhere.
At Bow another conference. The original plan was to walk to Meaul and return more or less the same way we climbed. Majority vote was to just return, reasons included: the miserable weather; no prospect of it changing; no views; it was not a new hill for most and no shelter for lunch.

Descending for lunch

So off we went back down to the lead mines, a few slips on the sodden grass and then had a belated lunch. Luckily some decent views as we descended but looking back the hills remained in cloud.

Looking back clouds still cover the hills

Overall it could be viewed as a bit disappointing but there were enough positives, I had some decent exercise and a good chat with various people. Not at all a wasted day.

Time: 4.36
Ascent: 1678ft (512m)
Distance: 8.63m (13.89)

3 Donalds ridge walk...Meaul, Coran of Portmark and Cairnsgarroch

This week another day out with the fine folk from the KRC. It was an interesting section of the Rhinns of Kells ridge walk, an up and down day that takes in 3 Donald category hills. The route begins with a walk in then by climbing Coran of Portmark (623m), walking along the ridge to Bow (613m), continue until the highest point of the day Meaul (695m) and then cut across to Cairnsgarroch (659m)and then homewards.

Grey clouds at the start

An early start saw us parked up at the Green Well parking area near Carsphairn and we were walking by 9. After yesterday's awful monsoon conditions fingers crossed but disappointingly there is more grey than blue in the sky, let's be positive.

The track to the mine ruins

Avoid any traffic on the short road section then once over the bridge turn left and follow the track to the abandoned Woodhead lead mines. It is amazing that over 300 people once lived here with their own school, now there are just a few ruins dotted about. You go through a working farm, take care with gates, very grumpy farmer.
Along the track at Garryhorn is another historical spot in the demise of the Covenanters. This was the local base of the infamous Grierson of Lag whose dragoons slaughtered many Covenanters in the area. I love the bit where he was said to be so in league with the devil that at his funeral a black corbie (raven or crow depending on your local speak) perched on the hearse all the way to the grave.

Ruins and hills

After the ruins, go round the back and follow a quad bike trail up the side of Knockower hill and follow the faint lines to the right about two thirds up, going against the ridge and it will soon rise to the trig of Coran of Portmark. There are now superb views down the length of Loch Doon as well as along the ridge you are soon going to walk. Behind excellent views of Cairnsmore of Carsphairn and south with Loch Ken, a silver shining dog leg in the distance.

Loch Doon from Coran of Portmark

The wind was now significantly more than a breeze and turning cold, many jackets were donned, some of the group even adding gloves. Rain can also be seen moving from the west across Craiglee, this is high summer!! But the views are top drawer.
Take time and enjoy this excellent ridge walk with its grand views over 360 degrees. Sadly the wind turbines are aplenty, just try and ignore them. The ridge has some undulating but fine walking. Although we are stopping our walk at Meaul the ridge continues and from here there are also fine views of Carlin's Cairn.

Bow & Meaul from Coran, Merrick on the right

According to the guide on the top of Bow apparently there is a single stone and plaque marking the spot where a Covenanter, John Dempster, was shot by Lag’s dragoons, but we could not find it and with the cold winds not many wanted to hang about.

Meaul ahead

Another up and down on a fairly good plateau track and thankfully we reach Meaul, good views of the high hills including the Corbett Merrick. A stone wall dyke gives us excellent protection from the wind to have a break and enjoy our lunch. So good I thought the wind had died until I stood up.

Meaul trig

We descend some slightly rougher terrain and then climb back up to the cairn at Cairnsgarroch. Underfoot is a getting more challenging, hidden holes in the grass ready to do an ankle to the unwary, but it was to get a lot worse. Time for snaps then a long descent down a steep grassy slope to the burn. 

Cairnsgarroch cairn looking back to the ridge

This was the start of the trickiest section. The grass was still slightly wet and like ice at times, a few slips in the group but thankfully just pride hurt. Once down it was not over as we had about quarter of a mile of treacherous Galloway tussocks and thickets, holes and ditches aplenty and well hidden, every step a potential leg breaking injury. This stretch was not fun.
At the burn a decision was made to cross this straight away which only resulted in one embarrassed water casualty. However, we then had about a mile of the previous terrain, throw in some chest high bracken and you get the picture. 

Squeeze through bracken

Finally back to the Woodhead ruins, no injuries and then we followed the incoming track back to the car.
No doubt that it was one of the slower group walks that I have been on and if it had been a solo trip I reckon I would have cut 1-2 hours off it, but a fun day nevertheless in good company. Plenty of stunning views particularly when the clouds disappeared and we actually got skelped by the sun.
Walk time 7.02 hours. Distance 10.94 miles (17.61km). Ascent 2373 ft (724m).